Immunity of pacemakers near high power systems at 85 kHz

Publication

Inductive Power Transmission (IPT) is increasingly being explored as an innovative solution to address the challenges faced by electric vehicles (EVs), by helping extend the driving range, reduce battery size requirements, and improve overall energy efficiency. However, several challenges must be addressed to ensure its widespread adoption. One key concern is electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), as IPT systems generate electromagnetic fields (EMF) that may interfere with nearby electronic devices, including active medical implants. Since these implants rely on precise electrical signals to function correctly, exposure to strong EMFs from IPT systems could potentially cause malfunctions, affecting patient safety by inducing voltages in their circuits. The objective of this paper is to quantify the induced voltages in pacemakers exposed to radiated fields and evaluate the potential for interference. The pacemaker is exposed to a magnetic field around a frequency of 85 kHz, first in a homogeneous field generated by a Helmholtz coil, and then in a real-scale wireless power transfer system.